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Bronx Little School

Grades: 3-K, Pre-K, K-5
Staff Pick for Special Ed
1827 Archer Street
Bronx NY 10460
Phone: 718-792-2650

Our Insights

What’s Special

Swimming and dance

The Downside

State test scores have a ways to go

Bronx Little School offers a warm tone and a winning mix of freedom and structure—not too strict, not too relaxed. Children are encouraged to speak up in class and they work together in groups. They study reading, math and more, but also work on making friends and resolving conflicts. Children are encouraged to try out leadership roles. School surveys show the school is safe, welcoming and well run.

Founded in 1999, Bronx Little began as an alternative school patterned after the progressive Central Park East elementary school in East Harlem, but after the founding principal left the school took a more traditional and strict path. 

Beverly Urquiza became principal in 2016 and sought to bring back more of the progressive practices, in particular the warm tone, while also boosting academics. She did away with traditional desks in rows in favor of group work and student discussion. She gets high marks from parents and teachers on school surveys. They say she has a clear vision for the school and is a good manager. While test scores have a ways to go, they are improving under her leadership.

The school accommodates various learning styles. Classrooms are equipped with self-soothing tools, swivel chairs for wiggly kids and beanbag chairs. On a mood chart, children use clothespins to identify how they feel, whether it’s happy, angry or sad. This gives the student and the teacher a read on where kids are but with the understanding that it can be changed or moved as the day progresses.

The administrative team meshes well together, and we observed genuine care in interactions between adults and students, both in classrooms and in conversations we observed in the hall as we passed. 

In classes from the youngest to oldest grades, we saw kids make use of conversation starters to help them think aloud as they sought the right answer – “I disagree or agree because…” or “The strategy I used was…” While this isn’t uncommon, we were taken with the ease and consistency with which students used these skills without much prompting or redirection from the teacher.

Bronx Little has a full-time licensed music teacher, and a theater program for students in grades 2-5 that culminates in an annual musical production such as The Jungle Book. Second graders take swimming classes every week. Fourth and 5th graders study ballroom dance, and all students study art with Studio in a School. 

The school serves a growing number of children learning English whose home languages are Bengali, Arabic and Spanish. Parents are welcome to become involved in their child’s education with a warm and understanding staff to support them. The school provides trainings, resources and workshops for the families. 

SPECIAL EDUCATION:  The school does well with this population, meeting or exceeding the citywide average. The administration believes the key to their success has been finding strong teachers and applying strategies consistently on every grade. 

ADMISSIONS: Unzoned. (Jacquie Wayans & Christine Rivera October, 2019)

 

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School Stats

Citywide Average Key
This school is Better Near Worse than the citywide average

Is this school safe and well-run?

From the 2020-21 NYC School Survey

How many teachers say the principal is an effective manager?
100%
82% Citywide Average

From the 2019-20 NY State Report Card

How many students were suspended?
0%
1% Citywide Average

From this school's most recent Quality Review Report

Are teachers effective?

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

How many teachers have 3 or more years of experience teaching?
77%
84% Citywide Average
Years of principal experience at this school
7.2

How do students perform academically?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many elementary school students scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
43%
53% Citywide Average
How many elementary school students scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
46%
50% Citywide Average

What is the Pre-K like?

From the NYC Program Assessment (CLASS and ECERS-R) Database through 2019-2020

Instruction: Teachers ask kids to explain their reasoning when they solve problems
Activities: Children explore art, music, sand/water, dramatic play and more
Language: Teachers talk and listen to kids in a supportive way
Interaction: Teachers ask kids good questions and invite back-and-forth conversation

Who does this school serve?

From the 2022-23 Demographic Snapshot

Enrollment
311
Asian
16%
Black
16%
Hispanic
66%
White
2%
Other
1%
Free or reduced priced lunch
94%
Students with disabilities
24%
English language learners
18%
Pre-K seats
18
3-K seats
15

From the 2021-22 School Quality Guide

Average daily attendance
92%
90% Citywide Average
How many students miss 18 or more days of school?
28%
40% Citywide Average

From the 2020 School Directories

How does this school serve special populations?

From the New York State 2022-2023 Assessment Database

How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
19%
30% Citywide Average
How many students with disabilities scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
31%
23% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state math exam?
22%
21% Citywide Average
How many English language learners scored 3-4 on the state reading exam?
13%
12% Citywide Average


For more information about our data sources, see About Our Data · More DOE statistics for this school

Contact & Location

Location

Parkchester (District 12)
Trains: 6 Line to Parkchester; 2 Line, 5 Line to East 180th St
Buses: Bx21, Bx22, Bx36, Bx39, Bx4, Bx40, Bx42, Bx4A, Q44

Contact

Principal
Beverly Urquiza
Parent Coordinator
Loida Guzman

Other Details

Shared campus?
Yes
This school shares a building with PS 536 and Archer Elementary
Metal detectors?
No

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